Interview with Chiara Principe

WHAT GOT YOU INTO DESIGNING COINS?

Passion for art and creativity have akways been part of me. Drawing is my first passion. I remember when I was a child I spent hours drawings everything I saw, so I attendend the Art School and specialized in Sculpture. After graduation, I casually knew about the School of Metallic Arts of the Italian Mint and this is how I got into the coins world!

DID YOU HAVE A GUIDE OR A MENTOR THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

Yes, at the School of Metallic Arts I met with Uliana Pernazza, one of the best Italian engravers. She taught me everything I know about coins and medals. Above all, she transmitted me the passion for this unusual art.

DO YOU MAKE OTHER PIECES OF ART BESIDES COINS?

Yes, I design stamps and sculpture works like trophies and bas-reliefs.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BETTER?

Coins, of course!

HOW DID YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH POWER COIN BEGIN?

I saw one of Power Coin coins online, so I researched the company and surprisingly found out they are in Italy and in Rome, which is where I am from! So I reached out to Antonello, the CEO of the company, and asked to meet with him and expressed my interest in designing for coins for Power Coin. I was very nervous at first, but the meeting went really well and we had a lot of ideas that are now coins!

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST OPINION ON THE “FEAR TALES” SERIES?

I thought this was a winning project because we are all familiar with fairy tales, but in this series we present a different and alternative version of the classic tales, where the evil wins and the characters are “sadly ever after”.

THE COINS IN THE “FEAR TALES” SERIES ARE PARTIALLY COLORED. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH PART TO COLOR? IS THERE A REASON FOR IT?

It depends on the coin. I choose to color the elements that I want to highlight. In Hansel & Gretel, I chose to highlight the candies and the witch’s eyes using the same red color to create a connection between them.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF THE WITCH COMING OUT FROM THE CHIMNEY?

I had this idea because I wanted the witch to be as close as possible to Hansel and Gretel in order to represent a threat for them. I also wanted to anticipate the ending of this tale, that sees the witch burned by the children!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COIN IN THE “FEAR TALES” SERIES SO FAR?

My favorite coin is Little Red Riding Hood because it is the first issue in the series and also one of my first design for Power Coin.

WHAT WILL BE THE 4TH ISSUE?

Top secret! We are working on several projects at the moment. What tale would you like to see on the next issue?

ARE YOU A COIN COLLECTOR?

Yes, I collect commemorative 2 euros coins.

I am looking forward to seeing Chiara’s next work!

Stay tuned to discover it with me!

Collect, Invest, Enjoy!